The Victorian Parliament has established independent watchdog agencies to help ensure that the public sector, including DELWP agencies and their board members and employees, acts with integrity, efficiency, and accountability, for example:

conducting investigations, either in response to a complaint or on its own initiative

making reports with findings and recommendations, which may be tabled in Parliament or, in the case of IBAC, be highly secret to protect a whistleblower

referring the matter on to be dealt with, for example, by Victoria Police or by DELWP.

Related support module: As your agency’s governing body, the board must act with integrity and foster integrity throughout the organisation. It should have a board policy that is consistent with DELWP’s model Integrity Framework.

Protected disclosures must be made direct to IBAC

An allegation that a board member, staff member or other person is involved in corrupt or other ‘improper’ conduct in relation to a DELWP agency must be made directly to IBAC. Otherwise, the allegation will be ineligible to be a protected disclosure under the Protected Disclosures Act 2012. This applies whether the whistleblower is a member of the agency or an external person.

Making a protected disclosure:

ensures that the identity of the whistleblower (the ‘discloser’) and the nature of the complaint remain confidential

gives the discloser legal protection under the Act against reprisals (‘detrimental action’) being taken against them.

It is important for your agency to ensure that board members and staff know to immediately advise a potential discloser to redirect their allegation to IBAC instead. The person should be assisted to understand that a protected disclosure:

cannot be made to the agency

cannot be made to DELWP

MUST ONLY be made directly to IBAC.

Mandatory notifications by CEO (principal officer)

Your agency’s principal officer (CEO by whatever title) must notify IBAC if they suspect that corrupt conduct has occurred or is occurring in the agency, or in relation to the agency, unless exempt under s 57(1) and (1A) of the IBAC Act.

If your agency is subject to the Financial Management Act 1994, there are additional requirements under Standing Direction 3.5.3 to notify the Minister for Finance and the Auditor-General of suspected or actual theft, arson, irregularity or fraud.

The Secretary of DELWP also has an obligation to report suspected corrupt conduct in a DELWP agency to IBAC.

Guidance note

The DELWP guidance note on this topic is currently being updated. In the meantime, for further information please see the IBAC website.

The Victorian Auditor General's Office (VAGO) conducts performance and financial audits of public sector agencies, including DELWP agencies. Whilst VAGO does not receive individual complaints, it is part of the integrity framework that helps to ensure the public sector conducts its role with integrity, accountability and efficiency.

The Victorian Auditor-General reports their findings to Parliament. For further information visit the VAGO website.